Introduction
Contrary to the ongoing narrative that “The best defense is a good offense” football is won in the trenches. A great offensive line affects the offense on every snap, but a great defensive lineman disrupts the opponent in every facet. A big 3-Tech in the middle puts pressure on the QB, stops the run, and even stuffs passing windows. Think current NFL standout Aaron Donald, a 1/1 talent who won’t be easily replicated. However, there is a prospect coming out of Death Valley who reminds me of AD, his name is Bryan Bresee.
College Career
Bryan Bresee has always had the spotlight from high school to the ACC. Bresee was a monster at Damascus High in Damascus, Maryland. He received many local and national awards as a junior and senior. As a “game-wrecker” his play was noticed by several Power-5 schools. Bresee received All-American honors in 2018 and 2019. As a result, he received offers from Alabama, Penn State, and Georgia. Many were surprised when he opted for Clemson joining an already stacked defense.
As a freshman, Bresee played well and won several accolades including ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year. In his sophomore year, he was named First-Team All-ACC. His junior season was a step down from his sophomore year, if you will, but he still received Second-Team ACC Honors. Unfortunately, Breese’s senior season was racked by injuries and an off-field tragedy. Breese lost his sister Ella to cancer in September, but did not take time off from the team and dedicated his play to her.
Tale of the Tape
Breese’s tape shows a lot of traits that NFL teams will like. He is well-known for his bull-rush move against tackles, but I believe his run-stopping ability is underrated. Bresee uses his large frame to get in running lanes and stuff runners. One major knock on his game is that he struggles against double teams, but if he is drawing double teams, that’s a plus for the rest of the defense line as it frees up the edge. Bresee is a sure-fire first rounder, but the biggest question is his fit. The best fit for Bresee is the Las Vegas Raiders as they already have two established pass rushers in Maxx Crosby and Chandler Jones. He would be an welcome addition to an already formidable line.
